Key Takeaways:
- The author commenced a distinguished career in science communication in September 1982 as an editor at *Astronomy* magazine, an opportunity influenced by their previous publication, *Deep Sky Monthly*.
- Over 43 years, the author dedicated their professional life to *Astronomy* magazine, serving as editor-in-chief for half of that period, beginning in 2002.
- During their tenure, the author contributed to 516 consecutive issues, oversaw 278 as chief editor, and authored 278 consecutive editorials, marking this article as their final one in this capacity.
- Post-retirement, the author intends to continue contributing to *Astronomy* on occasion, remain active in the field, and has a notable record of authoring 26 books and serving on the boards of the Starmus Festival and Lowell Observatory.
“Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man,” said Abraham Lincoln on the train platform as he addressed a crowd of his friends, ready to leave Springfield, Illinois. I suppose I feel a slightly analogous way.
In September 1982, I moved to Milwaukee, straight from college, and started my dream job as an editor at Astronomy magazine. It was Deep Sky Monthly, the home-produced magazine I began in high school, that started me on this adventure. We relaunched that title as a quarterly, Deep Sky, which lasted for a decade before my increasing work on Astronomy demanded that we cease producing the smaller title.
Over the last 43 years I’ve had a wonderful time working on Astronomy and making it the world’s leading title on the subject. For half of that time, since 2002, I’ve been the magazine’s editor-in-chief. It has subsumed my entire adult life; I’ve worked on 516 consecutive issues of the magazine (of its total of 617), and produced 278 issues as the chief editor, including writing 278 consecutive editorials. This will be my last.
In this amazing journey, which has carried me from age 21 to retirement, I’ve had the incredible pleasure of getting to know hundreds of you, as readers of the magazine and as enthusiasts in the most amazing activity we know of on our planet. It has been a great pleasure, at professional meetings, star parties, and amateur events.
Now I will contribute to this title that has composed much of my life from time to time. I’ve also had the chance to write 26 books in science and history, and to serve on the boards of the Starmus Festival and of Lowell Observatory. I’m sure that I will continue to be very active in this field and I hope I will encounter many of you in the coming days.
With a fond farewell, I wish you all the best.
David J. Eicher
Editor-in-Chief
